Rodding machine



Jan. 12 ,1926. l1,569,054

' w. G. WARNER Y,

RODDING MACHINE Filed oct. 1s. 1922 2 sneetssneet 1 '[/qoo'lowpo o/loofomi; o'ooo'oooooooo 1 l v l 54 Y 1 G14 5 l Jan. l2 1926. 1,569,054

w. G. WARNER RODDING MAHINE Filed Oct. 13. 1922 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "y /lf/ I 25' ff IU l @Hmmm @[mhw L J/jigg o fr J Ll/l/l/l//l/l/ W15-NESS INVE NTO/ Cil Patented Jan. l2, 1926.

. UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. WARNER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RODDING MACHINE.

Application filed October 13, 1922. Serial No. 594,417.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, VVILLLAM G. lVAnNiin, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of Pittsburgh, in the county of 4`fillegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered the new, useful, and Improved Rodding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises a machine for inserting duckfrods into and withdrawing the same from underground conduits.

Then a telephone or other cable is to be inserted in an underground conduit, the present practice is as follows. The duckrods, which are in relatively short lengths and are connected together as they are inserted, are first inserted. Apulbwire is then drawn through the conduit by means of the duck-rods, and the cable is then drawn through by means of the pull-wire.

In the present practice the duck-rods are inserted and removed by hand. Diiiiculty is experienced, especially` in inserting the rods, and this diliiculty is materially in creased by the presence of mud or sand in the conduit.

The object which I have in view is the nprovision of a practical machine for inserting and pulling out the rods, thus greatly facilitating and expediting the operation of installing a cable in a conduit.

Generally speaking, my improved machine comprises a trackfixable in the manhole and upon which travels a carriage provided with means for engaging the rods, and also means for forcing the carriage along the track, thus exerting the necessary pull or push on the rods. The carriage may be-either manually or power driven along the track.

` In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the principles of my invention l show two embodiments of the same, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view in side elevation showing a preferredy embodiment of my invention forcing the rods through a conduit from one manhole to another; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of said machine; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 3, but showing the abutment plate swung down into its operative position; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation showing another embodiment of the principles of my invention installed in a manhole and in 'use to introduce the duck-rods into a conduit; Fig. 7 is a plan view of said machine; Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same, and Figs. 9 and l0 are sections taken along the lines IX-IX and X-X, respectively.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings, reference being first had to Figs. l to 5, inclusive. c

A and A represent a pair of manholes between which extendV the conduit B, the conduits B and B2 extending in either direction in alinement with the conduit B of which latter they are continuations.

The track consists of two parallel rails C, C, preferably of angle cross-section with their vertical flanges toward the inside.

The rails are fixed in spaced relation to each other by any sufficient means, as by be ing welded or otherwise secured at their ends to the bells D, l). Said bells are provided with flaring mouths turned inwardly and have their outer and smaller bores internally threaded to receive the ends of the exteriorly threaded lengths of pipe E, E which extend into the opposed conduits B and B and act as guides to properly direct the duck-rods.

Enlarged nutsV F, F are screwed on the pipes E, E up against the walls of the manhole, thus clamping the track in place.

Upon the track is movably mounted a carriage which is shown as of the following construction. Upon the horizontal flanges of the rails C, C run two pairs `of wheels G, G, and G', G', which preferably have tractive engagement with the rails C, C, such .as by the radial pins l fixed on the perimeters of the wheels and which engage holes 2 punched through the rails. It isA quite evident that a cog` and rack engagement may be provided between the wheels and the track, but owing to the frequent presence of mud or dirt in the manholes, I prefer the pin and hole` engagement as self-clearing and less likely to clog.

The wheels are fixed on the axles 3 and ffl, respectively, said axles being journaled in holes in the vertically disposed side plates HH, of the carriage. Said side plates are held in rigid4 spaced relation to each other, as by the top and bottom cross-braces Bushings 6 are mounted on the axles between the side plates and the wheels to hold the carriage against lateral movement.v

The side plates H, H, extenddown below the track and are there provided with transversely disposed axles 7 upon the ends of which are mounted the rollers 8 which engage the rails from below and thus prevent vertical movement or bucking ofthe carriage.

The protruding ends of the axles 3 and l are squared to permit the application of the crank handle 9 by means of which the carriage may be driven along the track in either direction. I prefer to make one pair of wheels larger than the other pair, so that where the resistance of the rods is relatively small, I may apply the crank handle to the axle of the larger pair of wheels, and thus cause the carriage to move more rapidly. In case of considerable resistance, I apply the crank handle to the axle of the smaller pair of wheels and thus reduce the speed but increase the force exerted by the'carriage on the rods.

In this embodiment ofy my invention, I provide two means for engaging theduckrods. Thus, as one of said means, I provide one side plate on its inner surface with a fixed concaved gripping member 1() while the other side plate is provided with a sec` ond gripping member' 11 provided with 'la hub which is slidably mounted on a spur shaft 12 extending inwardly from the` side plate. The inner end ofthe hub is provided with an annular cam surface 11a adapted to -be engaged by the complementary cam surface on the inner end of a collar 13 rotatably lmounted on said spur shaft and having its inner end abutting against the side plate. The collar 13 is provided with a radial handle 14-Vso that the movable clamping member may be forced into snug engagement lwith a rod.

In use the duck-rod is gripped between the fixed gripping member and the movable gripping member 11, which latter is wedged up against the rod by means of the camcollar 13. y

It is evident that as the carriage is driven along the track, the duckrod will be forced through the bell and pipe into or withdrawn from the conduit. As a rod is forced into the conduit, the grip is released when the carriage can no longer advantageously apply force to the rod, and the carriage is then run back and another' rod attached to the end of the first named rod.- The grip is then tightened on the fresh rod near its rear end and the carriage is again driven forward along the track. The operation is repeated until the desired length of rods has been inserted. In withdrawing the rods, the carriage is run up close to the mouth of the conduit from which the end of a rod protrudes and the grip clamped about the rod. rIhe carriage is then driven in the other direction as far as possible. The

grip isthen released and the rod detached, and the carriage run back again and clamped on the next rod, and the operation is repeated.

Frequently a string of duck-rods of considerable length, crossing one or more manholes, is being pushed in or withdrawn. In

such case, this embodiment of my invention 4 may be set up in an intermediate manhole, the line of rods extending through both bells D, D into the alined conduits. Iny such case the carriageis run to one end of the track and the trip clamped about a rod. The carriage is then driven to the other end of the track, forcing or boosting the line of rods along. The grip is then released and the carriage run back to obtain a fresh hold.

'Vhere the rods are being forced into the conduit from the initial manhole, I may use the abutment plate 15 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 15 journaled in bearings -16 at the front to of the side plates C, C. The lower end of the plate 14 is provided with laterally extending ears' 16 which, when the plate is swung down into the position shown in Fig. 5, engage the front ends of the side plates C, C and hold the abutment plate Ain a substantially vertical position, so that it may bear against the end of the rod and force it'through the bell and pipe into the conduit. When not in use, the abutment plate 111 may be swung back out of the' way, resting on top of the side plates C, C as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, I show another embodiment of'my invention, wherein thetrack structure is formed of a length of steel tubing H longitudinally slotted at top and bottom to form the two guide plates 17', 17 between which rides the carriage I which is preferably a box casting open at the top. 'The ends of the track tube Hare inserted into the annular Aflanges 18 of the bells D, D.

.I is a horizontally disposed rack rail whose ends are secured by the bolts 19 extending down through the ends ofthe tube G and the flanges 18 of the bells D, D. y

The rack J extends through slots in the frontv and rear walls of the carriage I.

The carriage I is provided with a lever 2O pivoted intermediate of its ends to the cross shaft 21 and having its uppery end socketed for the insertion of the handle'22. The lower end of the lever is provided with a pivotally attached toe 23 which is adapted to engage the rack rail J so that movement of the handle 22 towards the right in Fig. S will force the carriage from left to right along the track. The ends of the carriage I are provided with suitable members or attachments 24 and 25 whereby the carriage may be connected to either end lof a duck-rod to pull or push the same.

To prevent the carriage'being forced rearwardly while the handle 22 is being swung rearwardly to move the toe 23 up 'another' carriage to be run rearwardly to' permit the insertion of an additional rod I rovide the toe 23 withl a lifting rod 27, so that the toe may be raised out of engagement with the rack. The upper surface of the toe is provided with av shouldered portion 28 which, when the toe israised, engages a lip 29 on the latch, thus raising the latch with the toe and releasing the tormer'from the rack also.

If desired the carriage may be run along the track by means of a rope or cable, which for instance, may be connected to the carriage and run over a pulley at a fixed point. Thus, in Figs. 3 and 5 I show a ring 30 mounted on the roller axle 7 and to which is connected a rope or cable 31 running over a pulley 3Q detachably mounted on a fixed support, such as the bell D and then to the hands of a workman, a windlass or to a power drum to wind up the rope.

It is evident from the foregoing that my invention greatly facilitates the insertion of the rods into and their removal from the conduits, thus greatly reducing` the time required for and the labor cost of the insertion of telephone cables and the like in underground conduits.

Although, for the purpose ot' clearly illustrating the principles of my invention, l have described in detail the embodiments of the same shown in the drawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereby, but claim broadly l. For use in a manhole for inserting push rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit communicating with said manhole, a rodding machine characterized by the combination of a portable carriage adapted to` be moved in said manhole in alinement with said conduit, means for moving said carriage, and means mounted on said carriage for engaging the duck rods for pushing or pulling the same, substantially as described.

2. For use in a manhole for inserting' duck rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit communicating with the manhole, a rodding machine characterized by the combination of a portable sup-port adapted to be temporarily installed in the manhole,

a carriage adapted to be moved back andV forward on said support in alinement with the conduit, and means mounted on said carriage for engaging the push rods for pushing or pulling the latter.

3. For use in a manhole for inserting duck rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit communicating with the manhole, a rodding machine characterized by the combination ot' a portable supportadapted to be temporarily `installed in the manhole, a carriage adapted to be moved back and forward on said support in alinement `with the conduit, means mounted on said carriage for engaging the lpush rods for pushing or pulling the latter, and means for driving said carriage along said support. l

fl. For use in awmanhole for inserting duck rods into' or withdrawing them froma vconduit communicating with the manhole, -a rodding machine characterized by the com* bination of'a portable track adapted tol be temporarily vinstalled in the manhole in alinement with theconduit, a carriage adapted to be movedback and forth on said track, and means mounted on' said carriage for engaging the duck rods to push or pull the same.

5. For use in a manhole for inserting duck rods into or withdrawing` them from a conduit communicating with the manhole, a rodding machine characterized by the combination of a portable track adapted to be temporarily installed in the manhole in alinement with the conduit, a carriage adapted to be moved back and forth on said track, means mounted on said carriage for engaging the duck rods to push or pull the same, and means for driving said carriage along said track.

6. In means for inserting duck-rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit, the combination oi' a track structure adapted to be placed in a manhole, means carried by the structure and adapted to be inserted into the mouths of alined conduits entering said manhole for the support of said track structure, a carriage mounted on said track structure, means mounted on said carriage n for gripping the end of a duck-rod for pushing or pulling the same, and means for driving the carriage along the track structure.

7. In means for inserting duck-rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit, the combination of a track structure adapted to be placed in a manhole, means carried by the track structure and adapted to be inserted into the mouths of alined conduits entering said .manhole for the support of said track structure, means for fixing said track structure in position, a carriage mounted on the track structure, means mounted on said carriage for gripping the end of a duck-rod for pushing or pulling the same, and means for driving the carriage along the track structure.

S. In means for inserting duck-rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit, the combination of a track structure adapted to be placed in a manhole, a tubular guide mounted on the end of the track structure and adapted to be inserted into the conduit, a carriage mounted on said track structure and movable thereon in axial alinement with said guide, means mountedon said carriage for gripping the end of a duck-rod for pushing or pulling the same, and means for driving the carriage along the track structure. Y

A k9. In means for inserting duck-rods into vor withdrawing them from a conduit, the combination of a track structure adapted to be placed in a manhole, tubular guides on said track structure adapted to be inserted into the mouths of alined conduits entering said manhole, .a carriage, movable on the track structure in axial alinement with said guides, means mounted on said carriage for gripping the end of a duck-rod for pushing or pulling the same, and means for driving the carriage along the track structure.

l0. gIn. means for inserting duck-rods into or withdrawing them from a conduit, the combination of a track structure adapted to be placed in a manhole, tubular-guides `on said track structure ladapted to be inserted into the mouths of'alined conduits entering said manhole,means for fixingsaid track structure in position, a carriage movableon the, track structure in axial alinement with said guides, means mounted on said carriage for gripping the end of a duck-rod for pushing or pulling thesame, and means for driving the carriage along the track structure.'

Signedat Pittsburgh, Par, :this llthl day' of Oct., 1922.

WILLIAM G. WARNER. 

